YouTube's subscription business is booming, reaching 325 million paying users across Google One and YouTube Premium, contributing to a total revenue of $60 billion for the year, a 17% increase. While ad revenue grew to $11.38 billion in Q4, it fell short of analyst expectations, prompting Alphabet to focus on expanding subscription offerings, including new YouTube TV plans, and leveraging AI tools to enhance content creation and user engagement.

YouTube's subscription business is booming, reaching 325 million paying users across Google One and YouTube Premium, contributing to a total revenue of $60 billion for the year, a 17% increase. While ad revenue grew to $11.38 billion in Q4, it fell short of analyst expectations, prompting Alphabet to focus on expanding subscription offerings, including new YouTube TV plans, and leveraging AI tools to enhance content creation and user engagement.

A cargo ship captain was sentenced to six years in jail for gross negligence manslaughter after a collision in the North Sea led to a crew member's death, highlighting the critical role of human oversight in maritime safety. The incident underscores the potential for devastating consequences when standard safety protocols, such as maintaining a proper lookout and utilizing available technology to assess collision risks, are neglected.

A cargo ship captain was sentenced to six years in jail for gross negligence manslaughter after a collision in the North Sea led to a crew member's death, highlighting the critical role of human oversight in maritime safety. The incident underscores the potential for devastating consequences when standard safety protocols, such as maintaining a proper lookout and utilizing available technology to assess collision risks, are neglected.

Drawing from multiple news sources, recent developments include the discovery of skin regeneration mechanisms, a complex political situation in Venezuela, potential food poisoning cases in the UK linked to baby formula recalls, and a K-shaped economic recovery in the U.S. alongside efforts to counter China's mineral dominance and potential overhauls to school meal programs based on new USDA dietary guidelines emphasizing protein and full-fat dairy.

Drawing from multiple news sources, recent developments include the discovery of skin regeneration mechanisms, a complex political situation in Venezuela, potential food poisoning cases in the UK linked to baby formula recalls, and a K-shaped economic recovery in the U.S. alongside efforts to counter China's mineral dominance and potential overhauls to school meal programs based on new USDA dietary guidelines emphasizing protein and full-fat dairy.

Multiple news sources report that Venezuela's interim leader is navigating a complex political landscape, balancing demands from the U.S. and expectations from Chavista hardliners following Maduro's ousting. Additionally, the 2026 Winter Olympics will introduce ski mountaineering as a new sport, marking the first time in over three decades that an entirely new sport has been added to the Games.

Multiple news sources report that Venezuela's interim leader is navigating a complex political landscape, balancing demands from the U.S. and expectations from Chavista hardliners following Maduro's ousting. Additionally, the 2026 Winter Olympics will introduce ski mountaineering as a new sport, marking the first time in over three decades that an entirely new sport has been added to the Games.

Multiple news sources report that Spotify, despite raising prices for users, is expanding its audiobook business by allowing U.S. and UK users to purchase physical books through the app via a partnership with Bookshop.org, supporting independent bookstores, and introducing features like Page Match and Audiobook Recaps to enhance the user experience. This move positions Spotify as a competitor to major booksellers by offering both digital and physical formats and aiming to become a comprehensive platform for book lovers.

Multiple news sources report that Spotify, despite raising prices for users, is expanding its audiobook business by allowing U.S. and UK users to purchase physical books through the app via a partnership with Bookshop.org, supporting independent bookstores, and introducing features like Page Match and Audiobook Recaps to enhance the user experience. This move positions Spotify as a competitor to major booksellers by offering both digital and physical formats and aiming to become a comprehensive platform for book lovers.

Prediction markets, which allow users to bet on various world events, including political outcomes and potential conflicts, have experienced a surge in popularity, particularly since the Trump administration. These platforms, explored by Saahil Desai, function similarly to stock markets, enabling individuals to profit from accurate predictions, but raise concerns about potential manipulation of media coverage and regulatory oversight, especially with media organizations increasingly incorporating them into their reporting.

Prediction markets, which allow users to bet on various world events, including political outcomes and potential conflicts, have experienced a surge in popularity, particularly since the Trump administration. These platforms, explored by Saahil Desai, function similarly to stock markets, enabling individuals to profit from accurate predictions, but raise concerns about potential manipulation of media coverage and regulatory oversight, especially with media organizations increasingly incorporating them into their reporting.

Multiple sources report that Substack is notifying users about a data breach from October 2025, discovered on February 3rd, 2026, which exposed email addresses and phone numbers. While passwords and financial information remain secure, Substack is investigating the incident, bolstering security, and advising users to be cautious of suspicious communications.

Multiple sources report that Substack is notifying users about a data breach from October 2025, discovered on February 3rd, 2026, which exposed email addresses and phone numbers. While passwords and financial information remain secure, Substack is investigating the incident, bolstering security, and advising users to be cautious of suspicious communications.

Drawing from multiple sources, Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers has been awarded the NFL's 2026 Salute to Service Award for his work with veterans through his "23 and Troops" foundation, which has raised $700,000 and supported military families. McCaffrey, who grew up near a military base, expressed gratitude for the honor and highlighted the sacrifices made by service members and their families.

Drawing from multiple sources, Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers has been awarded the NFL's 2026 Salute to Service Award for his work with veterans through his "23 and Troops" foundation, which has raised $700,000 and supported military families. McCaffrey, who grew up near a military base, expressed gratitude for the honor and highlighted the sacrifices made by service members and their families.

Kilo, an AI coding startup backed by GitLab's co-founder, has launched Kilo CLI 1.0, a model-agnostic command-line tool supporting over 500 AI models, and a Slackbot powered by MiniMax, signaling a shift away from IDE-centric AI development towards embedding AI capabilities across various developer workflows. According to VentureBeat, this strategic pivot aims to provide developers with a more fluid experience, allowing them to access AI tools from IDEs, terminals, remote servers, and team chat threads without having to jump between different interfaces.

Kilo, an AI coding startup backed by GitLab's co-founder, has launched Kilo CLI 1.0, a model-agnostic command-line tool supporting over 500 AI models, and a Slackbot powered by MiniMax, signaling a shift away from IDE-centric AI development towards embedding AI capabilities across various developer workflows. According to VentureBeat, this strategic pivot aims to provide developers with a more fluid experience, allowing them to access AI tools from IDEs, terminals, remote servers, and team chat threads without having to jump between different interfaces.

Multiple news sources report that Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, plans to transform the notorious El Helicoide prison, once intended as a futuristic drive-through shopping center but later used for political torture under Chávez and Maduro, into a cultural center for police families and the community. Critics view this move, part of a larger effort to demonstrate change since Maduro's capture, as an attempt to erase the regime's history of repression and rehabilitate a symbol of Venezuela's decline.

Multiple news sources report that Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, plans to transform the notorious El Helicoide prison, once intended as a futuristic drive-through shopping center but later used for political torture under Chávez and Maduro, into a cultural center for police families and the community. Critics view this move, part of a larger effort to demonstrate change since Maduro's capture, as an attempt to erase the regime's history of repression and rehabilitate a symbol of Venezuela's decline.

Drawing from multiple sources, "48 Hours," the true crime show in its 38th season, airs Saturdays on CBS and streams on Paramount , Pluto TV, YouTube, Netflix, and CBS News 247. Upcoming episodes include stories about a Texas teenager claiming acne medication influenced him to shoot his friends, a mother seeking justice for her murdered daughter via TikTok, and a daughter convinced of her father's innocence in her mother's murder.

Drawing from multiple sources, "48 Hours," the true crime show in its 38th season, airs Saturdays on CBS and streams on Paramount , Pluto TV, YouTube, Netflix, and CBS News 247. Upcoming episodes include stories about a Texas teenager claiming acne medication influenced him to shoot his friends, a mother seeking justice for her murdered daughter via TikTok, and a daughter convinced of her father's innocence in her mother's murder.

Multiple news sources report that an Australian man has been charged with 596 child abuse-related offenses after a Queensland Police investigation, Operation Xray Wick, uncovered over 23,000 images and videos of 459 victims, some as young as seven, whom he allegedly groomed on social media and gaming platforms between 2018 and 2025. The 27-year-old suspect, initially arrested in February 2025, used multiple online profiles to target children in Australia and overseas, and authorities are working with international partners to identify and support all victims.

Multiple news sources report that an Australian man has been charged with 596 child abuse-related offenses after a Queensland Police investigation, Operation Xray Wick, uncovered over 23,000 images and videos of 459 victims, some as young as seven, whom he allegedly groomed on social media and gaming platforms between 2018 and 2025. The 27-year-old suspect, initially arrested in February 2025, used multiple online profiles to target children in Australia and overseas, and authorities are working with international partners to identify and support all victims.